Starting a Successful Job Hunt

Searching for a job can be rough, but the feeling of securing your first job will make it all worthwhile. When starting your job hunt, make a conscious effort to make every action count.

Looking for a job is not just about sending out countless applications and then waiting for a response. With so many other competing applicants out there, you need to stand out from the crowd by knowing how to impress your recruiters. Here are some tips on how you can do just that:

Build your personal brand Start early

Before you can even start marketing yourself to potential employers, you must know yourself well enough. This is where personal branding comes in. It is about showcasing what your accomplishments are, what you stand for and what you are capable of achieving. For example, if you have a flair for product design and are interested in a design-related career, then your personal branding is about creativity, pleasing aesthetics and how technology plays a part in it. One way to express this is by setting up a website and publishing your technical design portfolio as part of your application process.

As you develop your skills, you can also add your own personal touches — this is a ‘personal’ brand after all. Keeping and updating a portfolio, whether physical or digital, will come in handy. Not only can it serve as a record of all you have done so far, it also helps as a reference for recruiters and employers to refer to as proof of your skill development.

Building a brand is more than just keeping an updated portfolio. Make the time to understand what you want to be known for, and how you want to make your mark in the world.

So, when is the right time to prepare for your job search? Well, the answer is as soon as possible, ideally a year or so in advance. Of course, you do not need to immediately start sending resumes and applications — you can do that when you are near graduation. But there are still plenty of advantages in getting a headstart.

For one, in addition to preparing your resume and portfolio early (and updating it), keep an eye on the current job market. This is one of the ways you can learn more about the skills and types of work experiences employers are looking for.

By starting out early, it will keep you vigilant and focused on potential opportunities in the market. Being in the right frame of mind is often an understated part of job-hunting — it ensures that you keep doing your research and are on the hunt for the right opportunities well before the application deadlines.

In addition, having a headstart will especially help you when applying to companies with rigorous, multi-staged hiring processes. These can involve several submissions and rounds of interviews that can take up to months, which is especially true for graduate programmes. So, it may be best to get in line as soon as you can so that you can have ample time to prepare.

Do not waste time

In between submitting applications and resumes are often pockets of downtime, which might be tempting to take advantage of. It can feel like an extended school holiday in a way — sleeping and waking up late, or even scrolling through job listings in your pyjamas. But indulge for too long and you will soon find your motivation to job hunt plummeting — making it harder for you to pick it up again.

Yes, taking breaks between jobhunting sessions is important — especially for your mental well-being and to avoid burnouts. But just like all things, balance has to be maintained. And there are also other ways that you should spend your free time. For example, consider taking up courses or webinars to pick up new skills that might come in handy later on. If your graduation is still a few semesters away, you can choose to apply for electives related to your field of choice. Employers greatly appreciate applicants willing to invest in themselves, making it all the more reason to keep upskilling.

Get active on LinkedIn

When doing background checks on potential employers, the first place you should go to is their LinkedIn page. Likewise, the reverse is the same for employers who want to know more about their applicants. So, ensure that you keep your LinkedIn profile presentable and up-to-date!

But do not just chuck your resume’s contents onto your page and call it a day. More than just being a place for your digital resume and a job-search platform, LinkedIn is also the place for you to turn to when it comes to forming new and maintaining current professional connections. These can include your past employers, colleagues and even your friends from school. They not only provide recommendations via the platform, but can provide endorsements for your listed skills.

LinkedIn also allows you to connect with potential employers and in turn, learn more about their companies. It is a way to take a peek into what they are like, as well as a way for you to keep up with current issues and the latest developments from the industry.

Have an outstanding resume

Much of an employer’s first impression of you is derived from your resume, so be sure to look through it for typos or errors. In addition, you can set aside space in your resume to talk about your passions, as well as the skills you have to offer.

Your skills and experiences will be the main stars of the show – so ideally you should place emphasis on them. Use positive-sounding verbs, like ‘achieved’, ‘collaborated’ and ‘won’, when it comes to describing your successes.

If you are still having trouble or want further advice, take it up to your Career Coaches. They can offer one-on-one sessions for resume critiques and mock interviews, so take advantage of these to improve your skills.

Do your research

It might be tempting to just click ‘apply’ to every job position that catches your eye, but that may not be the best way to go about it. If you want to work in a company that fits with your own values and personality, finding that perfect fit obviously will require a little more effort than just skimming through the job’s title.

When you find a job listing that interests you, do your research, not just on the responsibilities it will entail, but also the company offering it. You can start by going through their website or social media (which you can follow to keep up-to-date) before moving on to any related or relevant articles about them.

Alternatively, if you are curious about what the work culture is like there, you could check out company review websites to see if there are any comments left by former and current employees. However, these reviews may be affected by personal bias or the passage of time, so do take them with a grain of salt.

Attending recruitment workshops by the Career Development Centre, along with good research and groundwork, is also another good way of showing potential employers on your initiative and enthusiasm towards their company, as well as your sincere interest in the job position.

Utilise your relationships

Who you know can play a significant role in your job search progress — so take good care of your network. Whether they are ex-colleagues, classmates or a faculty member, be sure to maintain your relationship with them, especially if you can connect with them on LinkedIn. After all, they have their own connections, which you can leverage for yourself.

Keep in mind that any new connection you make — be it through your university, career events or otherwise — can open doors leading to your dream job, so take extra care of how you communicate with them and stay in touch. You might have them to thank for when you get the dream job offer you wanted!